Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to reflect on the week of March 5th to the 11th and the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of attending and taking part in the games as the coach of the Northwest Territories Junior Women's Curling Team. Although our team schedule kept us very busy and allowed us very little time to take part in any of the other sports, I can safely say that we enjoyed the games very much.
Mr. Speaker, the more than 315 participants from the Northwest Territories should be congratulated, first for being such great ambassadors and, secondly, for bringing home some 108 ulus including 42 gold.
As a coach, I get a great deal of satisfaction watching young athletes achieve their personal best performance when everything is on the line. Throughout the week there were many great performances, such as the 11 year-old Jason Baxter from Inuvik, who won a silver and two gold ulus in dog mushing, the first ever gold for the Northwest Territories in that sport.
There are many other examples far too numerous to mention here today. However, there were other events of a less positive note and some of these I will address during question period. Mr. Speaker, I would like at this time to recognize all the athletes from Hay River, who participated in the 2000 Arctic Winter Games and I congratulate all the ulu winners in all the sports. I want to especially recognize the following athletes:
- • Megan Crowley from Yellowknife;
- • Ashley Hval, Fort Smith; and
- • Dayna Haley and Katrina Delorey, both from Hay River.
These four young athletes made up the Northwest Territories junior women's curling team. I want to point out, Mr. Speaker, that they did not have the opportunity to curl together as a team prior to the games. However, they were able to pull it all together and bring home silver ulus, losing the final game to a stronger Alberta North team. However, Mr. Speaker, their silver ulu performance is not the reason for their special recognition here today. This team was able to overcome any personal differences they may have had, overcome two player injuries that occurred, as well as a few defeats along the way.
But more importantly, this team was able to seize the spirit of the games and as a result received the Fair Play Award for female curling. These girls were very happy to receive this award. As their coach, I was extremely proud of them. Fair play and good sportsmanship, Mr. Speaker, I believe is what the games are all about. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.